a line was drawn with president obama and mitt romney on the economy. >> are we going to double down on the topdown economic policies that helped to get us into this mess or do we embrace a new economic patriotism that says america does best when the middle class does best? >> under the president's policies middle income americans haveburied. they have been crushed. middle income americans have seen their income come down by $4,300. this is a tax in and of itself. >> reporter: on health care -- >> i don't know how the president could have come into office, facing 23 million people out of work, rising unemployment, an economic crisis at the kitchen table, and spent his energy and passion for two years fighting for obamacare instead of fighting for jobs for the american people. >> reporter: in the role of government -- >> the federal government has the capacity to help open up opportunitand create ladders of opportunity and to create ameworks where the american people can succeed. >> reporter: the 90 minute debate moderated by jim layer was the first opportunity for the candidates to g